This Thursday we celebrate Thanksgiving Day and we are invited to give thanks in a special way for the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed on us.  We are encouraged to resist the temptation to join with those in our society who are making Thanksgiving Day more commercial in nature.  We should resist the urge to shop for bargains and instead reaffirm our commitment to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner and, if possible, make Thanksgiving a day spent with family and friends.  Prayer, thanksgiving, and fellowship should take priority over shopping.

The International Catholic Stewardship Council recommends that we attend Mass on Thanksgiving Day.  At Mass, as Catholics we have the opportunity to receive the Eucharist if we are so disposed and in the state of grace. The word “Eucharist” means “giving thanks” and we can thank God for the gift of our precious faith.  In addition to attending Mass, the Council suggests we make grace at our family feast especially memorable by asking each person present to name “…a person, a situation, an experience, for which they are grateful to a loving God.”  The Council also recommends time be set aside “…to pray over some experience in your life that was difficult for you.  Let God show you his presence in this moment and feel your heart respond with gratitude.”  As we celebrate this day, we can also remember those who cannot be with their loved ones for any reason.  We are encouraged to prayerfully consider these suggestions.

The following Thanksgiving Prayer, taken from “Catholic Online”, reflects the spirit which should be embraced on this special day:

FATHER IN HEAVEN, CREATOR OF ALL AND SOURCE OF ALL GOODNESS AND LOVE,
PLEASE LOOK KINDLY UPON US AND RECEIVE OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE IN THIS TIME OF GIVING THANKS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GRACES AND BLESSINGS YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US, SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL:
OUR FAITH AND RELIGIOUS HERITAGE, OUR FOOD AND SHELTER, OUR HEALTH,

THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
DEAR FATHER, IN YOUR INFINITE GENEROSITY, PLEASE GRANT US

CONTINUED GRACES AND BLESSING THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR.
THIS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS, YOUR SON AND OUR BROTHER.   AMEN.

As we reflect on this prayer, as in the past, it is suggested by our Church leaders that beginning Monday, the days before Thanksgiving be set aside for penance, for prayers for economic justice, and for deeds of charity, as we assist those who do without.  We can also pray that Thanksgiving will truly be a time for family and friends to get together to thank God for prayers answered and blessings received.

On behalf of the clergy and staff at Saint Brigid, I thank God for our faith community, and pray that your Thanksgiving Day will be a blessed and memorable one.